Signal receiving and distributing system



May 12, 1931. HOKE I 1,804,559

SIGNAL nscmvme AND DIISTRIBUTING sYsuI Filed Aug. 12, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet I l 1 I l L INVENTOR.

him

ATTORNEY3.

I SIGNAL RECEIVING AND DISTRIBUTING SYSTEI 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug.12. 1929 INVENTOR. FAfl/VK HOKE.

ATTORNEYJ.

May 12, 1931. F. HOKE smrm. mscm vme AND DISTRIBUTING s s-Tu Filed Aug.12, 1929 4speets+sneet a INVENTOR. Era/m" flora.

mw m R w R Q twi s.. o 5E.

v 3 n UM w m6 v Q m v p ATTORNEYS.

May 12, 1931.

F. HO'KE' SIGNAL RECEIVING AND DISTRIBUTIKG SYSTEI Filed m 12, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented May 12, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE FRANK HOKE, F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO HOLCOMB & HOKEEANU- FACTURING COIMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF INDIANA SIGNAL ancnrv'me ANDDISTRIBUTING sYsrEm Application filed August 12, 1929. Serial No.385,435.

This invention relates to a system of distributing signals such as maybe received by a radio set, telephone wires, or such as may be producedphonographically, or by several other possible methods. Moreparticularly,

it relates to a system for installation in hotels, apartment houses,tourist camps and the like, wherein each room may be supplied with asecondary receiving device. which may be 0 connected automatically to acommon receiving apparatus located in some central point.

It is contemplated. also that the connect-ion for each of the saidsecondary receiving devices may be controlled .by a coin or checkoperated time metering control whereby each receiving device isautomatically connected to the main receiving apparatus for a givenlength of time upon the insertion of a coin of a given denomination.

In the use of the device it is contemplated that the main receivingapparatus may be .a

radio receiving set, an automatic phonograph, a television receivingset, a wire connection to some center of distribution of entertainmentorany other similar apparatus.

Correspondingly, the secondary receiving devices may be head-phones orloud speakers for the translation of electrical signals to audiblesignals or they may be television receivcrs for the translation ofelectrical sigwith the same group of secondary receiving devices. ,4Other objects and features and the full nature of the invention will beunderstood from the accompanying drawings and the following descriptionand claims:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred type. of coin and timecontrol apparatus. Fig.- 2 is an interior view of the same apparatuswith the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of portions of theinterior of thesame apparatus. Fig; 4 is a rear elevational view ofother portions thereof. Fig. 5 is a view of portions of the electricalcontrol taken onthe line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an electrical wiringdiagram ofv the connections necessary for use of the invention withaphonograph and electrical amplifier ther e-.

for and a radio receiving apparatus. Fig. 7

is a diagram of an alternative form of electrical connections for thesame purpose.

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram illustrating a I third alternative form ofelectrical connections for the same purpose.

In the drawings a coin time control is provided for each translatingdevice and is indicated generally by the numeral 9.. As herein describedthis device is essentially the same as that disclosed in the co-pendinga plication of Frank Hoke and David T. ampbell, Serial No. 381,200,filed July 26,

bottom member, 10. and a cover member 11 which forms the front, two'sides and the top ofthe box, and which is suitably locked to the member10 and may be removed there- The control box 9 consists of a back and gPositioned within the box directly beneath the coin slot 13 is a coinreceiving chute 16 of a common form including a magnet 1'? for therejection of slugs of magnetic material, and an ejecting wheel 18 forthe rejection of perforated slugs. The coin chute 16 delivers the coin19 to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The operating handle 15 has a portion 22 bent at right angles to thehandle portion and extending behind'the central plate 20. The portion 22of the operating handle is fixedly attached to a shaft 23 pivotallymounted uponthe plate 20. A torsion spring 24 surrounds the shaft 23 andis anchored thereto at one end. The opposite end of said sprin isanchored to a pin 25 on the plate 20. The spring, therefore, servesnormally to maintain the operating handle in the upper position asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 4.

Carried upon the shaft 23 and rotatable therewith are a coin engagingmember 26 and an irregularly shaped member 27. The member 27 has atoothed projection 28 engaging a spring operated pawl 29. Normally, themovement of the operating handle 15 brings the toothed projection 28 incontact with the s ring pawl 29 and prevents further I motion 0 thehandle. With the coin 19 in the position shown in Fig. 2, rotation ofthe handle 15 brings the coin engaging member 26 into contact with thecoin, pressing the coin downward to contact with the pawl 29, thusremoving the pawl from engagement with the tooth portion 28 and allowingfurther movement of the handle 15.

Carried upon themember 27 is a ratchet member 30 normally maintained inthe position shown in Fig. 2 by a spring 31. The

ratchet member 30 may be moved in eitherv direction about its pivot pin32 against the action of the spring 31. In the lowering of the operatinghandle 1'.- the leading corner of the ratchet member 30 engages aserrated member 33 carried upon the plate 20, thus preventing return ofthe operating handle. When the handle has been lowered to its lowestposition, the ratchet member has traveled to the extreme end of theserrated member 33. During the return of the operatinghandle, theratchet member 30 engages the serrated member 33 to prevent a secondlowering until the said handle has again reached its normal uppermostposition.

Thus, the single ratchet member, by its engagement with'the serratedmember 33, insures that the operating handle, at each operation must becompletely lowered before it can a ain be raised and must be completelyraised efore it can again be lowered.

Carried upon the member27 is a roller 34 of insulation material; Aninsulation block 35 is carried upon theplate 20 and carries thereon twopairs of spring contacts 36' and 3611. When the operating handle isinits mosses Referring particularly to Fi s. 4 and 5 a clockworkmechanism indicate generally by the numeral 37 and a plurality ofelectric switches, herein three in number, each indicated generally bythe numeral 38 are carried upon the back of the plate 20. The clockworkincludesapair o fiplates 39 carrying the pivot points of the variousclockwork shafts and including between them a common form of clockworkmechanism whiclrJwill not be described in detail herei n.

The portion 22 joi woperating handle 15 carries a p'ifii glW 'adapted toenga e a tooth 41 upon "a depending link 42. T e link 42 is pivotallyconnected at its upper end to the outer ends of a lurality of levers 43.The said levers form t e operating levers for the switches 38 and one isprovided for each of said switches. Each of the switches 38 includes ametallic body portion 44 supported upon one of the plates 39 andcarrying a pivot pin 45 for the corresponding operating lever 43.Carried upbn each of the metallic portions 44 is an insulating member 46carr ing electrical connection members 47a, 47b, 4T0, 48a, 48b, and 480,as illustrated particularly in Fig. 5. Each of the levers 43 engages atits inner end an insulation piece 49, shown in Fig. 4, in turn-engaginga roller 50 of electric conducting material. Springs 51 normallymaintain the said insulation pieces in contact with the said rollers. Bythis construction the lowering of the levers 43 by means of the handle15 snaps one of the rollers 50 into contact with the contact members 47aand 480:, a second roller 50 into contactwith members 47 b and 48b andthe third roller 50 into contact with members 47 c and 480. The raisingof the said levers 43 similarly snaps the rollers into the open circuitposition shown in Fi 4.

A. link 52 is pivotally connected at one end to one of the levers 43 anda tension spring 53 is likewise connected to the same lever. In theoperation of the device after the insertion of the coin, the operatinghandle 15 is pulled down from the position shown in Fig. 4, therebypulling down the levers 43 and snapping the switches into the closecircuit position. The spring 53 is stretched by this action and therebytends to return the levers 43 to their upper position. This tion of thelink 52 with certain members of the clockwork mechanism as described inthe icmpending applicationaforesai'd, until a predetermined timeinterval has ela sed. Upon -the completionof the said time interval the'spring53 causes the raising of'the levers 43, thereby breaking theelectric circuits. v

Referring to Fig. 6,-a wiring diagram is illustrated'showing'theinvention applied for selective fuse with an automatic phonograph havingan "electrical: amplifier or. with a radio receiving set. "In thediagram an autom-ati'czphonogra his-indicated generally by thenumeral 4an is assumed to be of a type which continuously plays a series ofrecords :1 so long as power isfsupplied to its in-put ter minals 55.Electrical'impulses corresponding to the sounds recorded upon the recordare delivered by the phonograph 54 by means i 'T of the pick-up lines 56to a conimon form of thermionicamplifier 57 The amplifier 57 is providedwith" power in-put terminals 63 g and signal out-put terminals 64. Inthe diagram is likewise shown a radio receiving set a 58 assumed tobe'of a common form having ble pole knife switch. From one of theterthelusual aerial connection 59, ground connection 60. power inputterminals 61 and output terminals 62.; r For the operation of theapparatus, power is supplied from any suitable source of elec tricalenergy by means'of power lines 65 to a ."connecting device 66 hereinshown asa doumin'als of'the knife'switch 66 a connecting line 67 leadsto one of'the phonograph power input terminals a connection 68 leads toone of the power input terminals 63 of the phonograph amplifier and athird connection 69-leads to one ofthe power input terniinal 61 of theradio receiving 'set. The opposite terminal '55 'andthe. oppositeterminal 63 are connected together by a connection 7 O and are connectedto a terminal 71 of a double-throw, four-polekn'ife' switch 72. Theopposite terminal 61 is connected by-a "conductor 73 with a terminal 74of the knife switch 7 2; The said knifeswitch is :also provided with aterminal 75 which is connected with the terminal 74 when the said switchis thrown into the upper position as shown in -.'the diagram and isconnected with terminal 71 when the said switch is thrown in the 1 lowerposition. The terminal 75 is connected -'by a line 76 with each of thecontacts 47 0 in -'each of the coin boxes 9at the translating stations.Each of the terminals 48oin the coin boxes 9 is connected to a line 77leading to a terminal 7 Bot the knife switch 7 2. The --.:terminal 78 isconnected to a terminal 79 a when the knife switch is upwardly thrownand a terminal 80 when the knife switch is 80 are connected together bya line 81 and are also connected therebv to the opposite terminal of theknife switch 66.

By the connections just traced, it isevident that when the knife switch66 is closed and downwardly thrown. The terminals 79 and the knifcswitch 72 is u wardly thrown, the operation of any one o the coin boxes9 to close the circuit between contact points 47 a.

and 480 will supply operating current to the radio receiver 58.Similarly if the knife switch'72 is downwardly thrown the operation ofany one of the coin boxes will supply operating, current to theautomatic phongraph 54 and its associated amplifier 57. The outputterminals 64- of the amplifier 57 are connected by lines 82 with a pairof terminals 83 ofthe knife switch 72. The out-put terminals 62 of theradio set 58 are similarly connected to a pair of terminals 84 on theknife switch 72. When the knife switch is upwardly thrown the terminals84 are connected to a pair of terminals 85 on the said switch. Whendownwardly thrown the terminals 85 and the terminals 83 are connected.One of the terminals 85-is connected by a line 86 with oneoftheterminals 36 in each of the coin boxes 9. The other terminal 85 isconnected by a line 87 with one of the terminals 36a in each of the coinboxes9. In each coin box the opposite terminal 36 is connected toterminal 476 and the opposite terminal 36a is connected to the terminal47a. Each of the terminals 48a and 48b is connected to a terminal of-thespeaker or headphone 88. e

By this wiring the operation of any one of the coin boxes 9 to close theconnection between contact members 47 b and 48b and between contactmembers 47a and 48a connects the speaker 88 with the out-put terminalsof the radio receiving set when the switch 72 is upwardly thrown andwith the out-put terminals of the phonograph amplifier when the'switch72 is downwardly thrown. Since electrical connection is made betweenmembers 36 and between members 36a only when the operating handle of thecoin box has been returned to its normal upper position, the speaker 88cannot be operated y manually holding the lever in its lower'position.Each dividual 'volume control rheostat 89 connected in parallel with itsterminals.

' In Fig. 7 is shown an alternative form of connections in which thespeakers 88 are con:

illustrated in Fig. 6. In this connection, a,

coin box 109is used difi'ering in detail but I not in principle from thecoin box 9. In the box 109 the operation of the handle closes or of thespeakers 88 is provided with an innected in series rather than inparallel as the box 109 is arranged to break the contact between members470 and 480 and to make the contact between members 147 and 148 at theexpiration of the predetermined time interval. In box 109 the contactelements 36 and 36a are omitted and contact elements 136 are provided.The members 136 are arranged to be out of contactwith each other whenthe operating handle is in its normal position. In the wiring of thisdevice the wire 86 leading from the switch 72, as in Fig. 6, isconnected by a line 186 with one terminal 136 with the terminal 147 andwith one terminal of the speaker 88 of the first translating unit only.The opposite terminal of the speaker 88 is connected by a line 286 tothe terminal 148 and to the opposite terminal 136. The line 286 is thenconnected by means of a line 86a to the second translating station inthe same manner that line 86 is connected to the first translatingstation. Other translating stations are similarly connected in seriesand in the last station the line 286 leading therefrom is connected tothe line 87. By this means the closing of the contact between members147 and 148 in each translating station short circuits the speaker 88and prevents operation thereof. The opening of the circuit of the saidconnection by the operation of the operating lever .permits operation ofthe speaker. The provision of the contact members 136 insures that thespeaker 88 will be short-circuited until the handle has been re turnedto its normal position.

Another alternative form of wiring is il-.

lustratedin Fig. 8 whereby a selection of programs may be made by theoperator of the coin control. In this diagram like numbers indicate likeparts to those illustrated in Fig. 6. In Fig. 8 the knife switch 66 hasone terminal connected b lines 67, 68 and 69 to one power input terminalof the phonograph 54, amplifier 57 and radio receiver 58 respectively asbefore. The other terminal of knife switch 66 is connected by a line 90to each of the contact members 480 in each ofthe control boxes 9. Athree-circuit two-way switch 91 is provided for each control box 9. Aterminal 92 of the said switch is connected direct to the contact member47 c. When the switch 91 is positioned as shown in Fig. 8 the contact 92is connected by a line 95 with the second of the power input terminals61 of the radio receiver 58. Thus, with the switch in this position theinsertion of a coin and the operation of the control box handlecompletes a power circuit to actuate the radio receiver. When the switch91 is thrown into the opposite position the terminal 92 is connected bya line 96 to the second of the power input terminals of the phonographand to the second of the power input terminals 63 of the amplifier. Theoperation of the coin control with the switch in this position thereforsupplies power to actuate the phonograph and its amplifier. I

The switch 91 is also provided with a. terminal 93 and a terminal 94connected respectively to oneof the contact members 36 and 36a. Theopposite members 36 and 3611 are connected as before to contact members47 b and 470. respectively. The contact members 486 and 48a areconnected as before to the speaker 88. When switch member 91 ispositioned to actuate the radio receiver the terminals 93 and 94 areconnected by a pair of lines 97 with the output terminals 62 ofthe saidradio receiver, thus connecting the speaker thereto for radio receptionupon the operation of the coin control. When. the switch 91 isoppositely positioned the terminals 93 and 94 are connected by a pair oflines 98 with the output terminals of the phonograph amplifier forphonograph reception upon actuation of the coin control.

The invention claimed is: p

1. In a signal receiving system, the combination of a main signalreceiving circuit, a source of power for operating said circuit toreceivev signals, a plurality of secondary receivin devices, anindependent coin controllec? means associated with each of said devicesand located adjacentthereto for connecting said power source to saidreceivin circuit and for operatively connecting sai receiving circuit tothe corresponding secondary receiving device and an independentindividual time controlled means associated with each of said secondaryreceiving devices for breaking said connections a predetermined timeafter the making thereof.

2. In a signal receiving system, the combination of a main signalreceiving circuit, a plurality of secondary receiving devices, anindependentcoin controlled means associated with each of said devicesand located adjacent thereto for operatively connectin the same to saidreceiving circuit, and an independent individual Vtime controlledmechanism associated with each of said devices for breaking saidconnections a predetermined time after the making thereof.

3. In a signal receiving system, the combination of a main signalreceiving circuit, a source of power for operating said circuit toreceive signals, a plurality ofsecondary receiving devices, and a coincontrol box associated with each of'saiddevices and located adjacentthereto said boxes each including a switch adapted to connect said mainreceiving circuit to said power source upon the insertion of a coin, aswitch for simultaneously operatively connecting the associatedreceiving device to the main receiving circuit, and a time controlmechanism adapted to break said connections at a predetermined timeafter the making thereof.

4. In a signal receiving system, the combination of a main signalreceiving circuit, a

plurality of receiving devices and a. coin control box associated witheach of said devices and. located adjacent thereto each boxincluding a,switch adapted to operatively connect the associated receiving device tothe main receiving circuit upon the insertion of a coin, and a timecontrolled mechanism adapted to break said circuit ate predeterminedtime after the making thereof.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto afiixed m si ature.

y gn FRANK HOKE.

